Indian envoy slams Pakistan at UN, reaffirms J&K as integral part of India

By R Anil Kumar

• ‘Global epicentre of terrorism’: India slams Pakistan in strong UN retort

• Comments by India’s envoy P Harish came after Pakistan’s Deputy PM Mohammed Ishaq Dar made remarks about Jammu and Kashmir during an open debate on ‘Practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance’

• “Pakistan is a global epicentre of terrorism harbouring more than 20 UN-listed terrorist entities and providing state support to cross-border terrorism,” Harish said

New York. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish, strongly condemned Pakistan’s misinformation campaign at the UN Security Council (UNSC) and reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir “has been, is, and will always be” an integral part of India.

Harish made the remarks on Tuesday, February 18, while delivering India’s statement at the UNSC Open Debate on Practicing Multilateralism, Reforming, and Improving Global Governance.

India has been a victim of terror acts perpetrated by Pakistan through groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and it is a “supreme irony” when the global epicentre of terrorism pats itself on the back claiming to fight against the scourge, Delhi’s envoy told a UN Security Council meeting chaired by China.

India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish delivered a strongly-worded retort after Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammed Ishaq Dar made remarks about Jammu and Kashmir during an open debate on Tuesday on ‘Practicing multilateralism, reforming and improving global governance’ held under China’s presidency of the Council.

“The deputy PM and Foreign Minister of Pakistan have referred to an integral and inalienable part of India, the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in his remarks. I would like to reaffirm that the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has been, is, and will always be, an integral and inalienable part of India,” Harish said.

Slamming Pakistan’s propaganda, Harish highlighted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir exercised their democratic rights in last year’s legislative assembly elections, sending a strong message about their choice. “Pakistan’s campaigns of misinformation and disinformation do not change facts on the ground.

The people of Jammu and Kashmir voted in large numbers to choose their government. The choice of the people was loud and clear. Democracy in Jammu and Kashmir is vibrant and strong—unlike in Pakistan,” he stated.

He further took aim at Pakistan’s claims of fighting terrorism, calling it the “global epicenter of terrorism” and pointing out the contradiction in its self-proclaimed role in counterterrorism efforts.

“It is a supreme irony when Pakistan pats itself on the back as being at the forefront of the fight against terrorism. India has been a victim of terrorism perpetrated by Pakistan,” he said.

Several Pakistan-based terror entities and individuals are listed under the 1267 Al Qaida Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council and are subject to an assets freeze, arms embargo and travel ban.

In the past, China, a fair-weather friend of Pakistan, has often put holds and blocks on proposals submitted by India and its partners like the US to blacklist Pakistan-based terrorists at the UN.

Harish emphasized that terrorism, in any form, cannot be justified. “There cannot be any justification for terrorism regardless of its form, type, and motive. No political grievance can justify terrorism, and the UN can make no distinction between good and bad terrorists,” he concluded.